The Dutchmans Stern Conservation Park

Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Closures and safety

This park is closed on days of Catastrophic Fire Danger and may also be closed on days of Extreme Fire Danger.

You can determine the current fire danger rating by checking the Fire Ban District map on the CFS website.

Check the CFS website or call the CFS Bushfire Information Hotline 1800 362 361 for:

• Information on fire bans and current fire conditions
• Current CFS warnings and incidents
• Information on what to do in the event of a fire.

Listen to your local area radio station for the latest updates and information on fire safety.

Visitor information, bookings and park management:

Clare Natural Resources Centre
Phone: (+61 8) 8841 3400
Email: mrnp@sa.gov.au

Emergency contacts:

Medical, fire (including bushfire) and police emergency situations
Phone: Triple Zero - 000

Police Assistance
Phone: 131 444 for non-urgent police assistance

National Parks and Wildlife Service SA – After-hours duty officer
Phone: 0417 883 678

Injured wildlife:

Within the park
Please contact Clare Natural Resource Centre on (08) 8841 3400 or the after-hours duty officer on 0417 883 678 (outside of business hours)

Outside of the park
Please contact a local wildlife rescue group

Dutchmans Stern Conservation Park is located 10km north west of Quorn. Access is via Arden Vale Road, the signposted turn-off to the park is 6.5 km from the Port Augusta road intersection in Quorn. It is then a further 3 km to The Dutchman car park. All walking trails commence at the car park.

• Park maps

Dogs are not permitted in this park.

Discover which parks you can walk your dog in on our find a park tool or read 12 dog-friendly walks in Adelaide Parks by Good Living for inspiration.

Assistance dogs are permitted in most public places and are therefore welcome in South Australia’s parks and reserves. Assistance dogs must be appropriately restrained on a lead and remain under your effective control at all times while in a park or reserve.

As per the dogs in parks and reserves policy, if the dog is not an accredited assistance dog, they must be trained to assist a person with a disability to alleviate that disability and meet standards of hygiene and behaviour appropriate for a dog in a public place. However, refusal may be given if the person with the disability is unable to produce evidence the dog is an assistance dog with the appropriate training.

Before taking your assistance dog into a park that does not normally allow dogs, it is highly recommended that you contact us so we can provide you with the latest information on any potential hazards within specific parks that may affect your dog. Please contact the park via the contact details provided under the contact tab or call the information line on (+61 8) 8204 1910.

There are accommodation and picnic areas available in this park.

• Visit the Walking Trails Support Group for maps, leaflets and walking notes produced by park volunteers.
• Download the Flinders Ranges Walks app (iOS, Android) before you leave home for walking notes on 16 walks in the Flinders Ranges. This app is produced by park volunteers.

• Remote area travel information
• Parks management plans
• Trails SA
• SA Marine Parks

Outback Road Report

1300 361 033 (24-hour automated service)
Northern and Western South Australian Outback Roads Temporary Closures, Restrictions and Warnings Report

• Important: Collection of firewood within National Parks is prohibited. Dead wood plays a vital role in providing shelter for animals and adding nutrients to the soil.

Plants

Changes in vegetation reflect rock type, altitude and aspect. Sugar gums occupy the crest and upper slopes of the bluff, with stands of drooping sheoak scattered amongst them. White cypress-pines are found on cliff faces some distance below the crest of the range and blue gum covers the lower slopes. An attractive heath of common fringe-myrtle and needle bottlebrush on the northern slopes contrasts with the Christmas bush and curry bush on deeper soils of the southern and lower slopes. The park is home to great numbers of Quorn wattle, which are endemic to this region. The area comes alive after sufficient rain events with colourful wildflowers including the bright pink garland-lily found along creek lines. 

Animals

The diverse vegetation of this conservation park attracts a similarly varied range of birds. Over 51 species have been recorded, including several species of conservation significance. If you are lucky you may spot the uncommon chestnut-rumped heathwren, Gilbert’s whistler or diamond firetail. Keep an eye out for the fastest animal on the planet - the peregrine falcon, which reaches speeds in excess of 320 km/h when diving.

Euros are common in the reserve. Western grey kangaroos can be seen in less rugged areas, while red kangaroos are common on the western side of the park. Conservation efforts have resulted in an increase in numbers of the endangered yellow-footed rock-wallaby, which may be glimpsed along gorge walls. Three species of bat have been recorded in the reserve. The observant visitor may also spot an echidna or at the very least discover some of their diggings.

The creek lines and watercourses of the park provide habitat for several amphibians, including a new subspecies of the brown toadlet. Several snake species are present in the park, so take care when bushwalking.

Flora and fauna species lists

To download flora (plants) and fauna (animals) species lists for this park, use the 'Create Simple Species List' tab under 'Flora Tools' or 'Fauna Tools'  in NatureMaps. 

The Nukunu people are the Aboriginal group connected with this area. The Barngarla group to the west also have ties to the Dutchman region.

Aboriginal peoples have occupied, enjoyed and managed the lands and waters of this State for thousands of generations. For Aboriginal first nations, creation ancestors laid down the laws of the Country and bestowed a range of customary rights and obligations to the many Aboriginal Nations across our state. 

There are many places across the State that have great spiritual significance to Aboriginal first nations.  At some of these places Aboriginal cultural protocols, such as restricted access, are promoted and visitors are asked to respect the wishes of Traditional Owners.

In places where protocols are not promoted visitors are asked to show respect by not touching or removing anything, and make sure you take all your rubbish with you when you leave.

Aboriginal peoples continue to play an active role in caring for their Country, including in parks across South Australia. 

• DEW Park management
• DEW Aboriginal partnerships

Rocks in the Flinders Ranges have formed from the compression and folding of 500-800 million year-old sediments, which accumulated in the lakes and shallow seas of a massive depression known as the Adelaide Geosyncline. Two rock types are displayed at The Dutchmans Stern - hard, blocky ABC Range quartzite and softer Brachina Formation siltstones (both are also found further north in Flinders Ranges National Park). The Dutchmans Stern ridge is comprised of the hard quartzite, the lower slopes of the softer siltstone. Other different quartzites and siltstones also occur in this region.

The park gets its name from the bluff’s similarity to Dutch sailing ships of the eighteenth century. The rocky outcrops and slopes appear to resemble the reverse stern of these ships. The bluff was named by Captain Matthew Flinders who charted the nearby Spencer Gulf in 1802.

The Dutchman was a pastoral lease from the 1880s until it was acquired for conservation in 1985. Visitors may notice yards, tracks, buildings, fences and other reminders of the area’s pastoral history. Despite over 150 years of grazing, biodiversity has been maintained. Woodcutting, wattle stripping and yacca resin collecting activities also occurred. Scars remain from where mining companies have undertaken exploration work throughout the ranges.

• Walk, hike or trek - what's the difference?
• Bushwalking safety
• Bushwalking minimum impact code
• Park map
• Walking Trails Support Group

Moderate hikes

• The Dutchmans Stern Hike (5 hrs return, 10.5km loop)

  Explore the scrubland, gorges and open woodland that this park is known for.

• The Dutchmans Valley Hike (5 hrs return, 10km return)

  This track takes you west of the Dutchman range to two lookouts with spectacular views down Spencer Gulf and north-west towards Lake Torrens. Follow the Northern Boundary Track for 1.8 km before turning south along the Valley Track. Trail markings end where the Heysen Trail leads off.

• To the Summit (4 hrs return, 8.2km return)

• The Heysen Trail

  This section of the long-distance walking trail that extends from the Fleurieu Peninsula to the northern Flinders Ranges enters the park near the south-eastern boundary, turns north-west and exits through the northern boundary.

  Note: use of the Heysen Trail is prohibited during the Fire Danger Season.

There are no designated mountain biking trails in this park, however bicycles may be ridden on public roads within the park.

• Which parks can you ride in?

Camping (walk-in only)

Get back to basics and find a secluded spot to pitch your tent among the park’s steep ranges and deep gorges. While vehicle-based camping is not permitted in the park, walk-in camping is allowed west of the Dutchman Range outside of the Fire Danger Season. There are no designated camp sites and no fees.

Camping is not permitted during the Fire Danger Season.

Accommodation

For a unique experience, stay overnight in a classic 1950s Australian homestead or shearers’ quarters. The Dutchmans Stern Homestead and Shearers’ Quarters are self-contained buildings situated against a stunning mountain backdrop.

Book online  to reserve up to 12 month in advance

Dutchmans Stern Homestead (two bedroom with lounge & kitchen, sleeps six)

This spacious homestead is self-contained and sleeps up to six people. It features a fully-furnished kitchen, living room and two bedrooms. After a day of enjoying the park, relax on the front verandah which overlooks the rugged landscape.

You will need to provide own linen, pillows, towels and tea-towels. Crockery, cutlery and kitchen utensils are supplied.

Shearers’ Quarters (three bedroom with lounge & kitchen, sleeps nine)

This rustic building sleeps up to nine people and includes three bedrooms and a large combined living and dining room. The views through the glass doors in the main bedroom provide an impressive vista of the ranges and the bluff - a prominent landmark in the park.

Facilities include toilets, showers, cooking facilities, heating, barbeque and a fridge. Please bring your own linen.

Want to help?

To find out how you can help in this park or nearby, please visit Natural Resources Northern and York – Volunteering.

Want to join others and become a Park Friend?

To find out more about Friends of Parks groups please visit Friends of Parks South Australia.

You could join others to help look after a park. You can take part in working bees, training and other events.

The international Trail Users Code of Conduct is to show respect and courtesy towards other trail users at all times.

Ensure that you:

• when hiking, wear sturdy shoes, a hat and sunscreen
• be aware of weather conditions and avoid walking during the hottest part of the day
• make sure you have appropriate weather proof clothing
• carry enough water to be self-sufficient
• please be respectful of other users at all times
• stay on the designated trails and connector tracks for your own safety, and prevent the spread of declared weeds to other areas in the park
• ensure someone knows your approximate location and expected time of return
• take appropriate maps.
• Walk, hike or trek - what's the difference?

Camping is not permitted during the Fire Danger Season (usually November - April)

When camping in a National Park, it's important to remember the following:

• Always let someone responsible know your travel plans, especially when travelling in remote areas. It's a good idea to let them know when you expect to return.
• Check the weather forecast before you leave, including overnight temperatures on the Bureau of Meteorology. Even during very mild weather, the nights can get very cold. 
• The quality and quantity of water cannot be guaranteed within parks. Please bring plenty of water and food to be self-sufficient.
• Always camp in designated sites (where applicable) - do not camp beneath trees with overhanging branches, as they can drop without warning. It's also a good idea to check that there are no insect nests nearby.
• Check to make sure you're not camping in a natural waterway, flash floods can happen anytime.
• If camp fires are permitted, you must bring your own firewood, as the collection of firewood within National Parks is prohibited. Extinguish your camp fire with water (not sand or dirt) until the hissing sound stops.
• Ensure that you are familiar with the fire restrictions for this park.

Can I have a fire or barbecue?

• Wood fires and solid fuel fires are prohibited throughout the year.
• Gas fires and liquid fuel fires are permitted, other than on days of total fire ban.
• Ensure you are familiar with the fire restrictions for this park.

Closures and safety

This park is closed on days of Catastrophic Fire Danger and may also be closed on days of Extreme Fire Danger.

You can determine the current fire danger rating by checking the Fire Ban District map on the CFS website.

Check the CFS website or call the CFS Bushfire Information Hotline 1800 362 361 for:

• Information on fire bans and current fire conditions
• Current CFS warnings and incidents
• Information on what to do in the event of a fire.

Listen to your local area radio station for the latest updates and information on fire safety.

Every national park is different, each has its own unique environment, it is important to be responsible while enjoying all the park has to offer.

Please ensure that you:

• leave your pets at home
• do not feed birds or other animals, it promotes aggressive behaviour and an unbalanced ecology
• do not bring generators (except where permitted), chainsaws or firearms into the park
• leave the park as you found it - there are no bins in national parks, please come prepared to take your rubbish with you. 
• abide by the road rules (maintain the speed limit)
• respect geological and heritage sites
• do not remove native plants
• are considerate of other park users.

• Important: Collection of firewood within National Parks is prohibited. Dead wood plays a vital role in providing shelter for animals and adding nutrients to the soil.

Entry and backpack camping are free, however fees apply for accommodation.

Camping 

Backpack camping is free in this park, you do not need to book online and there are no designated camp sites.

Camping is not permitted during the Fire Danger Season.

Accommodation

Dutchmans Stern Homestead (sleeps 6)

This spacious homestead is self-contained and sleeps up to six people and features a fully furnished kitchen, living room and two bedrooms. After a day of enjoying the park, relax on the front verandah which overlooks the rugged landscape.

2 bedroom with lounge & kitchen. Need to provide own linen, pillows, towels and tea-towels. Crockery, cutlery and kitchen utensils are supplied.

• Book before you go

Shearers' Quarters (sleeps 9)

This rustic building sleeps up to nine people and includes three bedrooms and a large combined living and dining room. The views through the glass doors in the main bedroom provide an impressive vista of the ranges and the bluff - a prominent landmark in the park.

3 bedroom with lounge and kitchen. Facilities include toilets, showers, cooking facilities, heating, BBQ and a fridge. Please bring your own linen.

• Book before you go

Where can I book and pay in person?

If you are unable to book and pay online you can do so, in person, at these booking agents across the state.

For booking enquiries please email:

DEWMountRemarkableNP@sa.gov.au

This park is not included in the park pass system. 

• Which parks are included in the park pass system?

There are no other fees or permits associated with this park.